The lavarello, a native fish species of Lake Garda, was spotted for sale at the Tigros supermarket in Ispra, in the province of Varese, on October 29, 2024. This event has raised questions about its actual availability in the lake, where fishermen are reporting a drastic decline in catches due to a ban on restocking. Legambiente has sought clarification regarding the origins of the fish being sold and any potential fraud concerning its Gardesana provenance.
Professional fishing associations continue to fight for the resumption of fry stocking, while the lack of scientific data on the fish biomass in the lake makes it difficult to assess the impact of current fishing and restocking practices. The situation highlights the contradictions between environmental policies and commercial needs, raising concerns about potentially harmful extraction practices on the local ecosystem.
